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Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) and GSK plc have announced their commitment to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), in the continued roll out of the world’s first malaria vaccine. Bharat Biotech will be reducing the price of RTS.S, developed by GSK, PATH and partners, by more than half, to less than $5 progressively by 2028.
This price reduction is driven by process improvements, expanded production capacity, cost- effective manufacturing, and minimal profit margins. The announcement forms part of pledges to Gavi for its next replenishment phase (Gavi 6.0, 2026-2030) by both companies.
RTS,S was the first malaria vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021. Since then, GSK has made significant investments to enhance production capacity and efficiency, and to undertake the planned technology transfer to Bharat Biotech.
In parallel, Bharat Biotech has invested over $200 million in new, higher- output manufacturing facilities, product development and technology transfers. These enhancements have enabled a phased reduction in the price of the malaria vaccine, starting immediately and fully realised by 2028, when the transfer of production between the two companies is complete.
With Gavi’s support, 12 endemic countries in Africa will have introduced RTS,S through routine immunisation programmes by the end of 2025.
This has only been possible through the critical work that GSK has undertaken with Bharat Biotech, PATH, together with the WHO, implementing countries, MedAccess and Gavi, to help deliver access to life-saving malaria prevention for children in endemic countries in Africa.
